Stage-lift flowing device



Oct. 28, 1930. A. BOYNTON 1,779,727

STAGE LIFT FLOWING DEVICE Filed Dec. 10, 1926 ZSheets-Sheec l Oct 28,1930. BOYNTQN STAGE LIFT FLOWING DEVICE Filed Dec. 10, 1926 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Oct. 28, 1930 ALEXANDER BOYNTON, OF SAN ANTONIO,TEXAS STAGE-LIFT FLOWING DEVICE Application filed December 10, 1826.Serial No. 153,951.

This invention relates to stage lift flowing devices especially adaptedfor use in wells.

Briefly stated an important object of this invention is to provide afluid lift having novel means whereby a lifting fluid such as compressedair or gas may be introduced into a well tubing at a point below thelevel of the oil therein to bring the oil to the surface without the aidof a reciprocating pump and other parts known to be troublesome andcostly. I

further and equally important object of the invention is to providenovel means whereby the compressed lifting fluid may be introduced intothe well tubing in a manner to permit of the formation of lifting unitsor slugs promptly upon the admission of the lifting fluid to the welltubing.

Another aim of the invention is to provide an induction valve which isof highly simplified construction, reliable in use and comparativelycheap to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent during the course of thefollowing description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application and inwhich like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout thesame,

Figure 1 is an elevation of an automatic control valve embodied in theinvention and through the medium of which the flowing of the well underthe influence of the mechanism forming the subject matter of thisapplication is terminated when the level of the tubing fluid drops belowapredetermined point.

Figures2 and 2A are sectional views illustrating a tubing positionedwithin the casing and equipped with induction valves embodied in theinvention.

Figure 3 is a sectional view through an induction valve embodied in theinvention.

In the drawings the numeral 5 designates a casing to the upper end ofwhich a casing head 6 is attached. Figure 1 illustrates in a general wayan automatic control valve by means of which the mechanical flowing ofthe well when the level of the oil drops below a predetermined point isterminated.

Figure 2 illustrates that the tubing 8 has a number of induction valves9 incorporated therein for the admission of a lifting agent such ascompressed air or gas from the well or from any other well. In case airis employed a compresser is, of course, necessary.

Figure 2A illustrates that the lower portion of the tubing is providedwith a sediment chamber 10 consisting of a suitable number of lengths bfpipe and having the lower portion thereof closed by a cap 11. It isbelieved to be obvious that it is a simple matter to remove "whatsediment may be in the chamber 10 when the tubing is pulled to thesurface for any reason.

Each induction valve is in the nature of a two-piece body having a flowpassage 12 of approximately the same diameter and crosssectionalformation as the bore of the tubing, so as to ofler the least possibleresistance to the upward movement of the slugs of oilunder the influenceof the lifting units formed from the compressed air or gas introducedinto the tubing from the casing.

At this point attention might be directed to Figure 1 which illustratesthat the continuation 14 of thetubing has a very gradually bent elbow 15to conduct the flow to a desired point. The gradual curvature of theelbow 15 offers little resistance and obstruction to the flow of thefluid as will be appreciated.

Each induction valve has an annular valve chamber 16 the upper portionof which has constant communication with a suitable number' of inwardlydirected ports 17 through the medium of an annular groove 18. A llftingagent such as compressed air or gas passes through the chamber 16 andthe ports 17 and upon entering the tubing forms slugs or lifting unitsby which the oil in the tubing is conveyed to the surface. At this'point it might be stated that the plurality of discharge ports 17permit of the admission of suflicient lifting fluid to form a completeunit promptly upon entrance into the tubing. In other words almostimmediately upon the admission of a predetermined volume of a com- .120feet. From 1050 valves may be approximately 100 feet apart.

pressed lifting fluid into the tubing, the same becomesefi'ective as anoil flowing medium.

Triangular sockets or recesses 19 in the Wall of the flow passage 12provide for the convenient startin of the drill necessary in making theholes 1%. y In carrying out the invention the body of each inductionvalve is, as previously stated, formed from two sections, the uppersection being threaded into the lower section and being provided with aplurality of inlet ports 25. The inner ends of the inlet ports havecommunication with an annular groove 26 with which the ports 27 in avalve seat ring 28 have constant communication. This arrangementprovides for constant communication between the ports 25 and 27 eventhough these ports may not be in register. In other words, the groove 26maintains communication between the ports 25- and 27 so that thenecessity for accurately bringing these ports into registration isavoided. Figure 3 clearly illustrates that the valve seat ring 28 isthreaded into the lower portion of the valve chamber 16 and has theupper surface thereof provided with a valve seat 30 with which theoppositely beveled ring 32 on the lower end of a sleeve valve 33 isengaged.

The upper valve ring 34 of the sleeve valve is oppositely beveled and isadapted to engage a similarly formed seat 36 so that the movement of airor gas upwardly through the ports 17 may be cut off.

Attention is especially invited to the fact that the thickness of thematerial forming the valve rings 32 and 34 is less than the width of thechamber 16 to permit of the passage of a compressed lifting agent. Theweb connecting the valve rings 32 and 34 is wide enough to avoid thepossibility of the sleeve valve sticking while canted in the annularchamber 16. In fact the external diameter of the sleeve valve and thelength of the same makes canting of the sleeve valve unlikely even asthe result of uneven pressure of the lifting, agent from below.

In the installation of the improved stage lift flowing device one of theinduction valves may be placed approximately 450 feet from the surfaceand from 450 feet down to about 1050 feet one valve ma be placed atevery eet to 1450'feet the From 1450 feet to 1690 feet the valves may beadvantageously placed feet apart and below 1690 feet thevalve s may beplaced approximately 60 feet apart.

Below the inlet valves for the lifting agent a check valve 140 may belocated to retain in the tubing the oil that may not have been blown outin the flowing process. It is important to note that when the valveheads 32 are seated the same cooperate with the check valve 140 inretaining oil in the tubing. Necessarily some oil will settle back aftera well has flowed, unless an unnecessary amount of gas is wasted toperfectly clean the tubing. There is no reason why this oil should beallowed to settle back into the well exteriorly of the tubing'and buildup a back pressure against the oil seeking to come into the well. Forthat reason the'check valve 140 is employed in conjunction with thevalve heads 32. Furthermore, oilwhich is allowed to flow back into thewell exteriorly of the tubing not only wastes energy, but also resultsin agitation which assists in liberating the lighter properties of crudeoil. Therefore the check valve prevents unnecessary back pressure on thesands, avoids agitation and loss of energy.

The oil enters the tubing by way of an inlet 50 and inlets 51 forty orsixty feet below. As the level of the oil in the tubing is about 300feet above the level of the oil in the casin several valves will beexposed to permit 0 the admission of compressed air or gas to the tubingat a point below the level of the oil therein.

The highly compressed air or gas which enters by way of the passage 16does not expand until it enters the tubing and rises somewhat and it isthis expansion and consequent pressure which is relied on to bring theoil to the surface. The lifting agent such as compressed air or gasduring its passage through the valve chamber 16 partakes of noappreciable expansion. This is true because of the resistance resultingfrom the presence of a higher column of oil in the tubing than in thecasing. In other words expansion of the lifting agent is resisted by thehead of oil inthe tubing, but such expansion does, however, take placeafter the lifting agententers the tubing. I

When the level of the oil in the tubing drops below a predeterminedpoint with-respect to a particular valve the free inrush of the liftingagent such as compressed air or gas by way of the passage 16 will resultin the movement of the sleeve valve upwardly to closed position so thatthe supply of lifting fluid to the tubing by way of a particular valveis stopped.

Of course when there is sufiicient head of oil above a particular valvethe movement of the lifting fluid through the valve chamber 16 willslightly elevate the sleeve valve and, as previously stated, when thelifting fluid is allowed to rapidly rush through the chamber the valveis moved to its upper seated position. In this connection it is notedthat the under side of the valve ring presents shoulders or wingsdirectly in the path of travel of the inrushing air or gas so that whenthe velocity of the liquid fluid is increased the sleeve valve will beimmediately moved to its uppermost position. In other words, so long asthe level of the oil is above a particular valve or a predetermineddistance above that valve, the sleeve valve 33 will rise only pressedstate to blow the oil above the same to the surface.

As the level of oil drops, additional valves come into play and therapid rush of air or gas through a particular valve chamber 16,

a due to the drop in the level of oil in the tubing, will resulting inthe upward movement of the sleeve'valve to closed position to renderthat valve in operative for the present. This action, however, neveroccurs until the fluid level in the Well has been lowered to a pointWhere at least the next valve is exposed. Compressed air or gas thenenters at the lowermost exposed valve until the oil above that valve hasbeen blown out through the tubing. The next valve below has then becomeexposed by the drop of the level of the fluid within the casingexteriorly of the tubing and that valve will come into play.

This process will continue until the level of the fluid outside of thetubing has been low ered to the level of perforations 51. When theperforations 51 are exposed, the well, of course, is pumped ofl and thepressure of the air or gas will be quickly relieved through theseperforations. When the pressure of the air or gas is thus rapidlydecreased the automatic valve illustrated in Figurel will terminate theflowing operation. It will be observed that there is a passageestablishing communication between the casing and the automatic controlvalve.

By way of example, it might be pointed out that if there are 200 poundsof air or gas in the casing and 50 pounds of back pressure in the tubingthere will be 150 pounds of air or gas capable of lifting 500 feet ofoil at 30 pounds to the hundred feet. Therefore, if the valves arespaced approximately 100 feet apart below the level of the oil withinthe tublIlg five valves may be exposed and all of these valves would beclosed except the lower one or two because the back pressure there wouldnot admit air or gas fast enough to close the lower valves, but wouldadmit enough highly compressed air or gas to flow the oil from thetubing above. In .other words, the fluid having the lifting force mayenter the tubing only at points where substantial heads of oil areencountered.

Compressed air or gas entering through a particular valve has lessvolume than it assumes after it has risen ap reciably in the tubing andthe expansion 0 the air or gas after it enters the tubing is reliedon tolift the head of fluid.

With 100 pounds of effective pressure, that is, exclusive of backpressure in the tubing, and the level of the oil in the tubing is 300feet above the level of the oil in the casing, several valves in thetubing will be exposed to the admission of face of the oil in the tubingand the compressed air or gas would enter by Way of some or all of theexposed valves and expand below slugs of oil, which expansion andconsequent lifting is accelerated as the air or gas approaches thesurface.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed is:

1.- An induction valve for well tubings comprising a body having anannular Valve chamber extending longitudinally thereof, said bodybeing'provided with a flow passage for the reception of said liftinfluid and with ports establishing communication between said chamber andsaid flow passage, the upper portion of said chamber being provided withan annular seat, a valve seat ring in the lower portion of said chamberand having a valve seat, and a sleeve valve provided at the oppositeends thereof with means to engage said seats and close said ports andthereby control the flow of said lifting fluid into said'flow passage.

2. An induction valve for well tubings comprising a body having'anannular valve chamber adapted for the flow of a lifting fluid, a valveseat ring secured in said chamber and having a seat and a port, saidbody being provided with an annular groove constantly communicating withsaid port and with a fluid passage in constant communication therewith.I

3. An induction valve for well tubings comprising a body having anannular valve chamber adapted for the flow fluid, a valve seat ringsecured in said chamber and having a seat and a port, said body beingprovided with an annular move constantly communicating with sai port andwith a fluid passage in constant communi'cationtherewith, and a sleevevalve in said annular chamber, said valve being in the path of travel ofand responsive to the lifting fluid.

4. An induction valve for well comprising a body consisting of a pair ofdetachably connected sections having conducting means for a liftingfluid, one of the sections being provided with an annular groove andports communicating with said groove, a valve seat ring carried by theother section and having ports in constant communication with saidgroove, and'a sleeve valve adapted to engage said valve seat ring andbeing in the path of travel of and responsive to the lifting fluid.

5. In a fluid control device, a body having of a lifting air or gasbelow the surtubings Y a flow passage and an annular chamber encirclingand communicating with said passage, and a sleeve valve movable endwisein said annular chamber, there being inlet and outlet valve seats in thepath of travel of and adapted to be separately engaged by said sleevevalve.

6. An induction valve for well tubings comprising a body having a flowpassage and m an annular valve chamber provided with ports establishingcommunication between the valve chamber and the flow passage, a

valve seat ring detachably secured in said chamber and having a valveseat and orts, and a sleeve valve in said chamber an provided atopposite ends thereof with means to separately control said ports.

7. In a fluid lift for wells, a body having communicating vertical flowand valve chambers, the valve chamber being annular and having upper andlower passages for supplying a pressure fluid to said flow chamber, anda sleeve valve in said valve chamber, between the passages thereof andin the path of travel of the lifting fluid, said sleeve valve havingmeans for separately closing said passages to control. the flow of fluidthrou h the same and being moved upward by said pressure fluid anddownward by gravity.

8. In a fluid lift for wells, a body having an annular chamber for acompressed lifting fluid and provided at one end with an inlet and atthe other end with an outlet,

and a sleeve valve in said annular chamber between the inlet and theoutlet thereof and having means separately controlling said inlet andsaid outlet and being urged toward said outlet by the pressure of thelifting fluid and toward the inlet by gravity.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

ALEXANDER BOY-NTON.

